Steelers @ San Francsico: The Matchups

Before the season started this looked like a sure win on the Steelers' schedule; which only demonstrates how unpredictable the National Football League is. With Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey uncertain at best for Monday's game, this is shaping-up to be a very big hill to climb.

Looking at these numbers the 49er game plan seems obvious: Keep the opponent on a long field (their net punting average is phenomenal) and force mistakes (#1 in turnovers), thereby giving their offense a short field on which to work.


One statistic, not normally included in The Matchups, that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert believes is significant is average gain per pass play.  For what it is worth, the 49ers are 23rd in the league in the category while the Steelers are 7th.


San Francisco Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: San Francisco offense 26th (309.0) v. Steelers defense 2nd (276.1)

Average net rushing yards per game: San Francisco offense 7th (126.9) v. Steelers defense 6th (97.0)

Average net passing yards per game: San Francisco offense 29th (182.1) v. Steelers defense 1st (179.1)

Average points per game: San Francisco offense 12th (23.61) v. Steelers defense 2nd (15.23)

Steelers Offense v. San Francisco Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense 11th (371.6) v. San Francisco defense 5th (305.1)

Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense 17th (114.5) v. San Francisco defense 1st (70.5)

Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense 9th (257.1) v. San Francisco defense 17th (234.5)

Average points per game: Steelers offense: 19th (21.69) v. San Francisco defense 1st (14.0)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: San Francisco 5th (12.3) v. Steelers 8th (11.7)

Average yards allowed per punt return: San Francisco 12th (8.6) v. Steelers 10th (8.3)

Average yards per kick return: San Francisco 1st (28.0) v. Steelers 15th (23.9)

Average yards allowed per kick return: San Francisco 12h (22.4) v. Steelers 23rd (24.8)

Net yardage punting average: San Francisco 1st (43.7) v. Steelers 21st (38.4)

Opponent net yardage punting average: San Francisco 6th (36.9) v. Steelers 12th (38.2)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: San Francisco 1st (+21) v. Steelers 26th (-7)

Time of possession: San Francisco 3rd (32:00) v. Steelers 2nd (32:23)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency (touchdowns): San Francisco 30th (42.2%) v. Steelers 15th (52.3%)

Red Zone defense (touchdowns): San Francisco 1st (40.5%) v. Steelers 23rd (57.7%)

Sacks allowed: San Francisco 27th (39) v. Steelers 25th (37)

Some Individual Numbers
Passer rating: Alex Smith, 6th/NFC (91.5) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 3rd/AFC (95.6)

Leading rushers: Frank Gore, 3rd/NFC (1,054 yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns) v. Rashard Mendenhall, 13th/AFC (710 yards, 3.8 yards per carry, 8 touchdowns)

Leading receiver: Michael Crabtree, 18th/NFC (55 catches, 668 yards, 12.1 per catch, 2 touchdowns) v. Mike Wallace, 6th/AFC (62 catches, 1,034 yards, 16.7 yards per catch, 8 touchdowns)

Note: Antonio Brown is the 12th leading receiver in the AFC, and his numbers look like this: 55 catches, 925 yards, 16.8 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns
 
Sack Leaders: Aldon Smith, 6th/NFC (10.5) v. LaMarr Woodley, 6th/AFCh (9.0)